Fastener for closures



May 9, 1950 l.. E. wlLLETT ET Al.

FASTENER FOR CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 25, 1948 LE- E A TTORVKS May 9, 1950 Filed Deo. 23, 1948 l.. E. wxLLETT ET Al. 2,507,391

FASTENER FOR CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

l I fo/V f. w/ufrr 86A m40/V0 G. BAKER Patented May 9, 1950 FASTENER FOR CLOSURES Leon E. Willett and Raymond G. Baker, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Chamberlin Company of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 23, 194'8, Serial No. 67,032

7 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to latch assemblies and refers more particularly to a latch for removably clamping or holding separable members in assembled relationship.

One use to which the latch assembly may be put is to quickly removably secure the detachable panel of combination doors or windows in place within a fixed or permanent frame. The latch means ordinarily used for the above purpose comprises a rotatable cam supported within a milled slot in the frame and engageable in a milled cam slot in the adjacent side of the removable panel. The cam is usually operated by a screw having a shank fixed to the cam and having a slotted head accessible for manipulation from the inner side of the door or window.

The above general type of latch, although more or less universally used, is unsatisfactory, and is a constant source of trouble to the manufacturer as well as the user. In the lirst place milling slots in the adjacent edge portions of both the frame and panel is costly. In the second place the thickness of the wall of the frame and panel is greatly reduced by the slots with the result that the portions of the wall at one side of the slots frequently are broken during installation or re` moval of the panel rendering the latch ineffective. In the third place warping of the frame and/or panel, and accumulation of paint and foreign matter frequently interferes with manipulation of the screw to .rotate the cam into and out-of latching position.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a latch assembly having .none of the above objections and,at the same time, capable of being inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a latch assembly which does not require slotting the panel and enables employing a much lighter weight panel having narrower side frame members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a latch assembly composed of a relatively few parts having a design which renders it possible to produce the parts on a production basis by relatively simple and inexpensive stamping operations.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view-oi a combination ing the subject matter -of -this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one of the latch assemblies;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the latch plate of the assembly in its released position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a latch assembly which may be successfully employed where the panel insert is of considerably less thickness than the adjacent frame structure.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8.-8 of 'Figure 7; vand Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the parts in a released position.

It will be understood as this description vpron ceed's that the Vlatch assemblies selected herein for the purpose of illustrationmay be used to adthis invention is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein it will be noted that the reference character l0 indicates a combination type door having a panel insert ll. In accordance vwith conventional practice the door l0 is constructed to interchangeably receive panel inserts of the window or screen type, and these inserts may be effectively held in position in the door by latch assemblies vof the type to be presently described.

It is also orthodox practice in the fabrication of `combination storm doors to form the door frame around the panel opening with a rabbetted portion l2. The base of the rabbetted portion forms a sea-t for the ira-me off the panel H, and the latch assemblies about to be described serve to clamp the panel insert against the base of the rabbetted portions I2.

In installations where the outer face4 ofit panel l l lies flush with the corresponding and side walls |'I and I8. The bottom of the housing is normally closed by a bottom wall I9 which is extended beyond the opposite end walls I6 and has openings 2|) through the end portions thereof for receiving fastener elements. In this connection it will be noted that the lower edges of the end walls I6 are formed with laterally outwardly extending ears 2| which are formed with openings 22 arranged to register with the openings to enable extending fastener elements such as screws 23 therethrough.

The side wall I8 of the housing is transversely curved inwardly with respect to the housing and the bottom edge thereof is spaced from the wall i9 to form a slot 24 of suicient width to freely receive the latch plate I4. The latch plate I4 extends laterally beyond the side I8 of the housing for some distance and the end portion 25 is preferably bent upwardly to provide a grip. The opposite end of the latch plate is fashioned withv a vprojection 26 which extends outwardly between the side walls |'I and I8 into sliding engagement with the inner surface of the top wall I5. The projection 26 is substantially circular in cross section, and is shaped to have a rolling contact with the transversely :curved front wall I8 on the housing when the latch plate I4 is moved to its outermost position with respect to the housing. The arrangement is such as to enable the latch plate to be swung laterally outwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, wherein it extends at substantially right angles to the path of sliding movement thereof. Attention is called to the fact at this time that when the latch plate is in its latched position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the projection 26 contacts both the side wall Il and top wall |5. The opposite side wall I8, on the other hand, contacts the latch plate at a point spaced from the projection 26, and thereby cooperates ;with the latter to retain the latch plate in its latched position.

Assuming that the latch assembly I3 is employed for the purpose described above, it will be noted that the housing and bottom wall I9 are fastened to the frame of the door lli by the screws 23 in a position wherein the wall I8 faces the opening for the panel I In` this position the end portion 25 of the latch plate overlaps the outer face of the panel II, and holds the latter firmly against the base of the rabbetted portion I2. In the event it is desired to remove the panel II, the latch plate I4 is merely moved laterally in a direction to bring the 4projection 26 into rolling contact with the side wall I8 of the housing. When in this position the latch plate may be readily swung laterally outwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, and thereby enables the panel to be readily removed from the door frame.

In installations where the panel insert II is lconsiderably thinner than the side wall 21 of the rabbetted portion I2, a latch plate of the coniiguration shown in Figure 6 may be employed. This latch plate is designated by the numeral 28, and is interchanegable with the latch plate i4. However, the latch plate 28 has a laterally inwardly extending offset portion 29 of sufficient lateral dimension to frictionally contact the outer surface of the relatively thin panel frame. Owing to the fact that it may be desirable to interchange the latch plates, the bottom wall I9 is not permanently fixed to the housing. However, in instances where it is advantageous to provide a unitary assembly, the bottom wall I9 may be permaon the outer surface ofthe saidone member in nently attached to one of the ears 2| by a tubular rivet 3D. With such an arrangement the bottom wall may be swung to an inoperative position enabling the latch plates to be interchanged.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, it will be noted that the latch assembly comprises two separable plates 3I and 32. With such an arrangement it is preferred to form a recess 33 in the outer surface of the door frame adjacent the side wall of the rabbetted portion I2. The plate 3| is secured to the door frame in a position to extend over the recess 33, and this may be accomplished by suitable screws 34.

One edge portion 35 of the plate 3| is provided with a laterally inwardly extending projection 36 which is transversely curved or arcuate in cross section. The projection 3E extends into the recess 33 adjacent the side 21 of the rabbetted portion I2, and the free edge of the projection is spaced laterally outwardly from the base 31 of the recess 33 a suii'icient distance to freely receive the plate 32. The plate 32 is the equivalent of the latch plate described above, and is slidably supported on the base 31 of the recess 33. The end portion 38 of the plate 32 is provided with a laterally outwardly extending projection 39 which is transversely curved or arcuate in cross section. The opposite end portion 40 of the plate 32 is adapted to overlap the outer side of the panel II and is provided with a gripping ange 4|.

When the latch plate 32 is in the position thereof shown in Figure 8, the projection 39 slidably contacts the plate 3| at a point spaced from the projection 36 on the plate 3|, and the inner edge of the projection 3B slidably contacts the intermediate portion of the plate 32. Thus the plate 32 is firmly held in its latched position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. However, it will be noted that the two projecting portions 36 and 39 are shaped to have a rolling contact when the latch plate 32 is moved in a direction toward the panel insert |I. As a result the plate 32 may be readily swung to the position thereof shown in Figure 9 of the drawing, wherein it extends perpendicular to its normal path of sliding movement and provides ample clearance for removal of the panel II.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A latch assembly for removably holding two members in assembled relation with one member seated on the other, comprising a part secured to the outer side of one member and having a laterally inwardly extending portion, a slide supported at the inner side of the projecting portion of said part for sliding movement relative to the latter in directions toward and away from the other member and having one end portion overlapping said other member, a projecting portion extending laterally outwardly from the opposite end of said slide and slidably engageable with' said part, both of the projecting portions being shaped to have a rolling contact with one another when said slide is moved to the limit in a direction toward the said other member enabling outward swinging movement of the slide to release said other member.

2. A latch assembly for removably holding two members in assembled relation with one member seated on the other, comprising a part secured to the outer surface of one member and having a portion spaced laterally outwardly from the adjacent face of said one member, a slide supported a position opposite the laterally spaced portion of said part and having one end portion overlapping the outer side of the other member, a projection extending inwardly from said part and engageable with the slide, a projection extending outwardly from the slide and engageable with said part, said projections being shaped to have a rolling contact upon movement of the slide relative to the part in a direction toward the other member enabling the slide to be swung laterally outwardly out of engagement with the said other member.

3. In combination, a frame member having a rabbetted portion at one edge and having a recess in the outer surface opening into the rabbetted portion, a second frame member seated in the rabbetted portion and a latch assembly, said latch assembly comprising a plate extending across the outer side of the recess and secured to the first frame member, a slide supported on the base of the recess for sliding movement in directions tcward and away from the second frame member and having one end overlapping the outer face of the second frame member, a projection extending laterally into the recess from the end of the plate adjacent the rabbetted portion and engaging the outer surface of the slide, a second projection extending into the recess from the end of the slide opposite the overlapping end thereof and engageable with the inner side of the plate, said projections being shaped to have a rolling contact with one another upon movement of the slide relative to the plate in a direction toward the second frame member enabling the slide to be swung outwardly out of engagement with the second frame member.

4. A latch assembly for removably holding two members in assembled relation with the adjacent edges in juxtaposition and with one member seated on the other, comprising a housing secured to the outer side of one member adjacent the edge of the other member and having the wall facing the latter edge looped laterally into the housing providing an arcuate surface, a slide having one end portion overlapping the outer side of the said other member and having the opposite end ex tending into the housing along the inner face of the looped portion, and a portion projecting laterally outwardly from the said opposite end of the slide into engagement with the inner face of the adjacent wall of the housing and having a curved surface coacting with the arcuate surface on the looped portion in the outermost position of the slide relative to the housing to enable swinging the slide laterally outwardly out of engagement with said other member.

5. A latch assembly comprising a housing having top, side and end walls, a latch element supported for sliding movement toward and away from one side of the housing and having one end projecting into the housing through the said one side thereof, the end of the latch element extending into the housing having a portion projecting laterally toward the top of the housing and being of arcuate cross sectional contour, said housing having the side aforesaid thereof transversely curved for engagement with the projecting portion on the latch element in the extended position thereof relative to the housing to form a hinge enabling the latch element to be swung laterally with respect to the housing.

6. A latch assembly comprising a housing having top, side and end walls and having one side wall transversely curved, a slidable latch plate having one end portion projecting into the housing beneath the transversely curved side aforesaid and having a projection extending upwardly from said end portion into sliding contact with the top wall of the housing, said end portion being transversely curved for engagement with the transversely curved side wall aforesaid of the housing to provide a hinge enabling the latch plate to be swung laterally outwardly with respect to its path of sliding movement.

7 A latch assembly comprising a housing having top, side and end walls, a bottom wall for the housing cooperating with one side wall to form a slot, a slidable latch plate having one end portion extending into the housing through the slot and having a portion at said end projecting laterally into sliding contact `with the top wall of the housing, said projecting portion and the said one side wall of the housing being shaped to engage one another in the outermost position of the latch plate with respect to the housing to provide a hinge enabling the latch plate to be swung laterally outwardly with respect to its path of sliding movement.

LEON E. WILLETT. RAYMOND G. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wing Apr. 1, 1941 Number 

